Spring is finally here! With everything growing in fresh and new, it seems like the perfect time for rejuvenation. Maybe that’s why they call it spring cleaning! I know when the sun starts to come out and I can finally put away that winter coat, it gets me in the mood to clean and organize. So in the spirit of all things neat and tidy, I thought I’d provide ten important spring hair care tips for all you lovely curlies.
Spring Hair Care Tips
1. Give that shampoo bottle a break
Please try to get rid of the nasty habit of washing your hair every day. Your hair is supposed to have a reasonable amount of oil in it, so it shouldn’t be squeaky clean. Plus, all that rubbing messes up the cuticle patterns on your hairs and the curls end up all crazy — not in the good way!
2. Make conditioner your best friend
You might be skimping on the shampoo, but you’ll make up for it every day with the condish. Don’t be afraid to smooth it right on at the beginning of the shower. That way, it has time to moisturize while you’re doing the rest of your routine. By the time you rinse it out, you’ll have silky curls.
3. Resist the urge to brush
Brushing or combing your hair is, in my book, the number one killer of curls. For one thing, it pulls out the curl pattern and creates a lot of poof. Especially don’t do this when your hair is wet. Whether your hair is straight or curly, pulling on fragile wet strands causes breakage.
4. Treat damp hair with respect
Although it is a whole lot easier to just wrap the hair turban-style in a towel when you get out of the shower, the twisting and pulling can also lead to frizz. If you can, get a microfiber towel as opposed to cotton, and blot the curls dry with your head upside-down. You won’t believe how much quicker the drying process is with microfiber!
MORE: How to Dry Curly Hair
5. Give straight hair a rest
I know that people love to straighten their hair every day, and although I’m not the biggest fan, I can understand the appeal. But the constant heat does damage your curls, so let them go free every couple of days or so. It’s a little harder to get the curls to behave if you’re bouncing between straight and curly, but they’ll be much healthier.
6. Make best friends with your stylist
If you always walk out of your salon somewhat iffy about your latest cut, run away. Please don’t stay with a stylist out of guilt or obligation. You should be able to talk to him or her freely about what exactly you want out of your curls. Your stylist should understand that curls are cut different than straight hair. You should always leave a stylist’s chair smiling!
7. Accept the little frizzies
Although it’s the bane of our existence as curlies, frizz isn’t necessarily the worst thing in the world. It’s close to impossible to eliminate all the frizz on a daily basis, especially when the weather doesn’t cooperate. A little fuzz on the top or framing your face looks completely natural, and some prefer that look over the perfectly smooth curls. Don’t waste too much time and product trying to flatten the frizz.
8. Let it go
For those of us curlies who are constantly on the go and have a hard time with the curls bouncing all over the place, it’s easy to throw it back into a ponytail and be done with it. Be careful when it comes to how your hair is secured. Ponytails that are too tight can lead to more breakage and hair pulling, which means more frizz. The next time you’re tempted to slick it back, try a few bobby pins here and there.
9. Ignore fashion magazines
Regardless of what the latest trend is in hair, do what comes naturally for your own hair and face. Long, cascading curls might be in and look fabulous on some people, but if you can’t pull it off, so what? Rock those short curls if that’s what’s best for you.
10. Love your curls
What? You’ve heard that before? Well, you can never hear it too much. If you were blessed to be born with curls, love them and set them free. They might seem like a lot of work, but like everything, it’s a give-and-take relationship. Treat them well and they’ll get you a lot of compliments!
